How Does Our Service Work?

Whether your patient is seen in primary care (for short burst oxygen therapy) or assessed in secondary care (for long term oxygen therapy and/or ambulatory oxygen), all healthcare professionals will need to complete the NHS Home Oxygen Order Form (HOOF). In the future, the preferred method will be to access the form online so that it can be sent to us electronically ensuring the security and accuracy of the patient data.

Until this technology becomes available, you can fax the form to 0800 169 9989. If you prefer to order via telephone then please contact us on 0800 136 603. Please ensure you have all the details to hand before contacting Vitalair.

For more detailed information on completing the Home Oxygen Order Form (HOOF) please visit the "Place an Order" page on this site.

What Happens Next?

Vitalair will normally provide an installation within three working days from receipt of order. During the initial few weeks (Feb/Mar) of the new arrangements you should continue to use the "old system" to ensure continued supply of cylinders reach your patients via community pharmacists. Once your patient's oxygen order has been entered into our computer system we will send you a confirmation fax or e-mail which contains the installation date.

It is critical that you provide the installation date to the patient and their family so that the patient is aware of the planned date and is supported if possible. If for any reason this date is not acceptable you must advise us immediatley by phoning 0800 136 603.

Where a patient is seen as an outpatient, Vitalair will contact them directly to advise of the installation date.

Service Delivery

Our concentrator service covers every aspect of Long Term Oxygen Therapy, from advice to all the necessary practical help. We visit patient's home to supply, install, maintain and remove the concentrator and associated equipment. We will service the concentrator every 6 months and refund the patients' electricity every 3 months. We can also install outlets in differnt rooms so that the patient can move freely around their home.

Our Ambulatory Oxygen service covers every aspect of the system, with training on how to use the equipment, advice and the fullest support. Our delivery optimisation systems will monitor a patient's oxygen usage so that we can predict when oxygen needs to be replenished. This enables our Patient Service Representatives to provide a fast, reliable door-to-door replenishment service for the cylinder or liquid reservoir.

The majority of our oxygen patients will receive their cylinder deliveries on a regular pattern. We will do this by calculating how many cylinders the patient will use based on the information provided by the respiratory nurse or doctor.

This information is stored in our computer system and ensures the patient will receive a planned visit when they require more oxygen. The patient will find that their deliveries fit into a regular pattern, e.g. every Wednesday or every other week on a Thursday.

The PSR will let the patient know if we need to change this pattern.

If a patient is receiving Short Burst Oxygen Therapy, it is likely that they will be using oxygen more intermittently. Similarly, if a patient is using back up cylinders (supplied in case of a power failure of concentrator malfunction), it is difficult for Vitalair to predict when a cylinder replacement is needed. Thanks to our dedicated freephone telephone number 0800 136 603, we are always on hand to place orders over the phone. We will discuss delivery times with the patient, so that they can plan their personal commitments with certainty and reassurance.